Paul anderson

[Roark]

Although Paul Anderson, who would have turned age 70

tomorrow, was not known for grip strength, this feat was

attributed to him by Frank Spellman in The Iron Master,

September 1996 p 13:

"One interesting piece of equipment Paul had was a 200 lb.

solid dumbbell that was broken at the shaft, with about    

2 (sic) inch stub sticking out of one sphere. Paul gripped

the stub with one hand and did a lateral raise to shoulder

height with the weight and asked if we would like to try it,

OF COURSE WE ALL REFUSED."

If I am interpreting this correctly, Paul in fact pinch gripped

a piece of the handle that was 2" in length, then performed

a lateral raise with a weight of 100 lbs (half the 200).

Kaz was able in his prime to use 90 pound dumbells in the

cheat lateral raise, using a solid grip on the whole handle.

When I posted about Apollon's pastile, doubt was thrown

back at me.

So, what is your response to the claim described above?

[OldGuy]

Depends on how long of a stub was on the half of the solid 200 pound dumbbell. He may have held it like a hammer and then levered it up, rather than a pinchgrip type hold.

[OldGuy]

2 to 3 inches might be long enough for a man to grab hold of. I don't know if Anderson had small hands.

[Roark]

So you do not interpret that he was grasping a 2" stub?

I also assume that the bell was grasped with his hand in the

hammer position with the bell BELOW his hand (else hardly

a pinch feat, more of a balance feat).

[RSW]

(else hardly

a pinch feat, more of a balance feat).

     Well, I would like to think it took a bit of strength as well to do a 100lb. dumbell lateral.  I can only dumbell overhead press a 100lb. dumbell for 2 reps.

[Roark]

RSW,

What I meant was that if the stub was above the

hand the lift would be easier than if it were below the

hand- at least in regard to pinch strength required.

I remain unaware that anyone has EVER done a 100

pound lateral raise in good style on a regular, intact,

dumbell. To accomplish what is being discussed here

is far more advanced.

Take a plate loaded dumbell, slide all the weights to

one end, with 2" of handle sticking up. Now try to

lift it both ways. Unless the free hand helps turn the

bell over to the top of the lifting hand, there is no

man alive who could leverage 100 lbs from a 2" stub.

[RiotGrip]

If that is true, I'd assume that he lifted it in "vertical bar lift" style, I don't think that would be impossible, he may have even grabed it with the lateral aspect of his hand, thus giving him more leverage for the raise.  If the handle was knurled, it doesn't sound too far fetched.  As far as doing this with a hub style pinch grip, no way!

[Roark]

Again, set up a plate loaded bell with a 2" stub.

To go from the vertical bar lift position into a lateral raise

to shoulder height would be impossible to the front, and

unlikely to the side.

[Sybersnott]

Could the same effect be achieved on a standard bar with 100 pounds of weight plates on one end of the bar with a 2 inch end sticking out?

I'm in agreement with you Roark... it sounds unreal, and not possible.

[Guest mg6680]

I read it as he simply grasped the end (handle up) w/a crush grip then lifted it up.  Who knows?

[Roark]

mg6680,

I read it the same way.

When I experimented with a 2" stub, the reality of

the situation crashes in.

[Guest mg6680]

I figured so...I suppose a lot of the lifts you've encountered in your research could be classified the same way.